1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
The majority of the play takes place in 1990 in New York City. It opens in 2006 with an email from Marcus G. Dahlman, a white Caucasian actor, to David Henry Hwang, the author and main protagonist of the play. David is an Asian American playwright who is recognized for his talent in his previous play M. Butterfly. Marcus emails David about his travels in China, while David reads them and recalls the scandal he went through in the 90's which will be the main plot of the play later on. Then the play transitions to 1990 to talk about how a white man will be playing the role of an Asian pimp in Miss Saigon. This is the issue at hand as it deals with the color blind casting issue in the American theatre. Because the production team has claimed not to find a suitable Asian man, they have casted a white man.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
I found the intrusion to be when Rodney tells David that Marcus is not Asian. This is confirmation that David was wrong about Marcus, and that he committed the act which he had fought against by hiring a white man to play an Asian. This then causes David and Marcus to pretend he is Siberian to prevent backlash. Ultimately, Marcus lives in this lie and advances his career until he is accused of being a spy.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
Jonathan Pryce, a white man, is casted in the play Miss Saigon to play an Asian man. David is a very prominent protestor to this case of color blind casting and receives a lot of attention due to it. The play takes place shortly after when David creates a play and accidentally casts a white man to play an Asian, just like what happened in Miss Saigon. He is rushing to cast a good actor and lets his stress and ignorance overlook the fact that the person he is hiring is clearly white. The play takes place to show the irony of David carrying out a deed he recently protested against.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Marcus reveal to the public that he is not Asian? Will David be denounced for casting a white man for an Asian role?
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
David was seen as a "icon" or "leader" in the Asian American community. By accidentally hiring a white man to play an Asian was against what he believed in and was something he had openly protested about. He now faces judgment from critics, the theater community, and the people who once saw him as an icon. He tries to hide Marcus's race by labeling him as part Siberian, but cannot control if people end up finding out the truth. David and Marcus have a conflict because Marcus did not reveal his true Caucasian background with David before participating in Face Value.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
One moment I thought was extremely funny was when David found out that Marcus was in the play, The King and I. David and vice-chair of the Far East National Bank, Don Mihail are talking at a board meeting and mentions that he saw the play and mentions an actor. They go back and forth in conversation until ultimately, ironically, and quite hilariously, David finds out the Asian actor is the 100% Caucasian Marcus. This moment ends Act 1, and the next act begins with numerous positive reviews for Marcus. I genuinely felt as dumfounded as David to find out that Marcus had become well known and well received as an Asian actor. The irony in the play was very theatrical and made the play even more interesting than it already was.
Yellow Face Worksheet
1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
The majority of the play takes place in 1990 in New York City. It opens in 2006 with an email from Marcus G. Dahlman, a white Caucasian actor, to David Henry Hwang, the author and main protagonist of the play. David is an Asian American playwright who is recognized for his talent in his previous play M. Butterfly. Marcus emails David about his travels in China, while David reads them and recalls the scandal he went through in the 90's which will be the main plot of the play later on. Then the play transitions to 1990 to talk about how a white man will be playing the role of an Asian pimp in Miss Saigon. This is the issue at hand as it deals with the color blind casting issue in the American theatre. Because the production team has claimed not to find a suitable Asian man, they have casted a white man.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
I found the intrusion to be when Rodney tells David that Marcus is not Asian. This is confirmation that David was wrong about Marcus, and that he committed the act which he had fought against by hiring a white man to play an Asian. This then causes David and Marcus to pretend he is Siberian to prevent backlash. Ultimately, Marcus lives in this lie and advances his career until he is accused of being a spy.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
Jonathan Pryce, a white man, is casted in the play Miss Saigon to play an Asian man. David is a very prominent protestor to this case of color blind casting and receives a lot of attention due to it. The play takes place shortly after when David creates a play and accidentally casts a white man to play an Asian, just like what happened in Miss Saigon. He is rushing to cast a good actor and lets his stress and ignorance overlook the fact that the person he is hiring is clearly white. The play takes place to show the irony of David carrying out a deed he recently protested against.
4. State the dramatic question that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
Will Marcus reveal to the public that he is not Asian? Will David be denounced for casting a white man for an Asian role?
5. Use Hwang’s “character” to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
David was seen as a "icon" or "leader" in the Asian American community. By accidentally hiring a white man to play an Asian was against what he believed in and was something he had openly protested about. He now faces judgment from critics, the theater community, and the people who once saw him as an icon. He tries to hide Marcus's race by labeling him as part Siberian, but cannot control if people end up finding out the truth. David and Marcus have a conflict because Marcus did not reveal his true Caucasian background with David before participating in Face Value.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Yellow Face.
One moment I thought was extremely funny was when David found out that Marcus was in the play, The King and I. David and vice-chair of the Far East National Bank, Don Mihail are talking at a board meeting and mentions that he saw the play and mentions an actor. They go back and forth in conversation until ultimately, ironically, and quite hilariously, David finds out the Asian actor is the 100% Caucasian Marcus. This moment ends Act 1, and the next act begins with numerous positive reviews for Marcus. I genuinely felt as dumfounded as David to find out that Marcus had become well known and well received as an Asian actor. The irony in the play was very theatrical and made the play even more interesting than it already was.
This was definitely my favorite play so far!